Would You Believe Dr. Luke’s Prescription?

In a cynical generation such as the one I am a part of, it is nice to know that the Bible offers the skeptic a chance to test their conspiracy theory on a historic document. Without reading too much into who Theophilus is, I think that the timelessness of Luke’s approach in writing to this influential Greek is timely to skeptics of our day.

It’s right there in the intro:

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you most excellent Theophilus…” (Luke 1:1-3).

I take Luke to be saying, “Some really big stuff happened recently that is causing a lot of people to talk and write. I wanted to make sure that you now about all the data that I have been collecting because it is worth knowing in a comprehensive way.”

Luke is admitting that he has an angle to take on the Jesus story and that it is worth seriously considering. In the gospel that will follow, Luke gives his thesis in in 1:4, “that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”

This is great. He promises certainty. He baits us with hope that what we are about to learn (or review for many of us) is actually true. Luke is going to lay out some historical events filled with eternal claims that he believes are essential to know and can indeed be known.

In an age of uncertainty, Luke offers certainty. Very timely I must say.

A New Devotional Journey With A Promise

Today I started a journey with Luke’s gospel that I am going to slowly work through in these next months. 

I think the cool thing about this gospel is that it confidently and unashamedly offers the reader a chance to investigate the claims it makes. Dr. Luke gives his readers the option to read his claims and make a decision for themselves. I like that kind of confidence.

I think I’ll keep reading.